Paco Peña is driving Hercules forward as the new technical secretary for the blue and white squad. With the season approaching, the squad-building task feels almost like constructing a team from the ground up. The ex-captain has a mandate to assemble twenty players in collaboration with the new head coach who will define the roster: fifteen professionals and four under-23 players, with the fifth under-23 spot earmarked for César Moreno. The plan is to have the team fully assembled within roughly a month, leaving six weeks of preparation before the league opener. The initial move is to refresh the leadership at captain, Raúl Ruiz, whose deep knowledge of the club and strong bond with the supporters are crucial to the project. Ruiz made his Hercules debut at eighteen, and his return to winning ways has him excited for a surge of positive results that could boost morale. He aims to help push back the negative experiences from the last three campaigns since returning to Rico Pérez in the 2020 winter market. Alongside him, players such as Álex Martínez, Nico Espinosa, Federico Bikoro, Borja Díaz, and Adrián López have shown interest, though nothing final has been confirmed about their signings for the blue and white shirt. Club communications
At the same time, the club is prioritizing strikers who can deliver consistent goals and put an end to last season’s drought. The club has both Toscano and César Moreno under contract, and Elche’s junior staff could be part of a sale if the price satisfies Hercules. Moreno enjoyed a strong season, attracting interest from several clubs. While negotiations are fluid, his contractual release clause sits at three million euros. Transfer discussions
Before any major moves are made, the first step is to confirm the budget for Hercules’ first team. The club will require a larger budget this season due to longer travel demands, and the staff is racing against the clock to assemble a compelling squad in Spain’s fourth tier. Club planning notes
The players Hercules hoped to renew did not receive offers from the club.
Pedro Rojas
This season will bring a tense atmosphere as the team faces renewed scrutiny after disappointing performances. Supporters have continued to voice their concerns during community events, including recent gatherings at Alfonso el Sabio. Supporter actions
Presentation by Angel Rodriguez
Hércules plans to present Ángel Rodríguez as the new coach of the blue and white team on Monday at 12:30 at Rico Pérez. Rodríguez would become the eighteenth coach in ten years, having managed Pontevedra before Langreo and most recently guiding a promotion to the First RFEF last season. He will succeed Sergio Mora, with Leónese signing for another season if promotion is achieved. This marks Peña’s first major signing strategy for the club. Club brief
Sixteen coaches considered
Pedro Rojas